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Oberyn_TheRed_Viper t1_it58m4q wrote

Reply to comment by jib_reddit in Power outlets have a faint smell. by napstur

Are you saying American Outlets don't all have switches on them??

That's madness, surely.

edit - Thanks for the down votes on an item that should have a switch by default as a basic safety measure. That' some patriotism for ya.

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foss4us t1_it59ubq wrote

They do not. The only time we install switched outlets is if we have a table lamp in the back corner of a room and want to control it from a switch at the doorway.

Our outlets only use half the voltage of yours though.

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toogsh1212 t1_it5ginz wrote

No. The closest we have are GFCIs

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Oberyn_TheRed_Viper t1_it5qirs wrote

>GFCI

Thanks. Haven't seen those before.

We have RCD's (residual Current Device) back in the electrical box to protect the outlet user, rather than having it on the outlet like your ones.

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a_lost_shadow t1_it5xsl4 wrote

It's interesting how things are similar but different across the countries. Here in the US you can get GFCI breakers, but they tend to be more expensive than the outlets. The outlets can also protect all downstream outlets.

We also have AFCI (ARC Fault) breakers mandated for most residential circuits. This is another reason for the GFCI outlets since some locations like laundry areas now require both AFCI & GFCI protection.

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Kale t1_it6uvv5 wrote

The US electrical is kind of weird. We have GFCI that breaks the circuit if electricity on one leg is different than electricity on the other leg (meaning current is leaking somewhere). This GFCI can be on a circuit breaker, on the receptacle itself, or on the plug of the device.

AFCIs are new and required in bedroom circuits. The early breakers would trip with certain arcing loads, like vacuum cleaners. They were annoying enough that an electrician I know said that almost all home owners would get the AFCIs installed, pass the electrical inspection, then replace the AFCIs with traditional circuit breakers. I think the AFCI technology is better today though.

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g1ngertim t1_it5y5mz wrote

Better yet, a half inserted plug can both make contact, becoming hot, and still have exposed metal, making for just the safest fucking design 👍

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ColgateSensifoam t1_it64jyx wrote

And they're usually installed upside down, with no mandatory ground, so it's entirely possible to drop a conductive object onto a plug and start a fire

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orbital_one t1_it5qhmj wrote

Outlets are supposed to have switches?

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Oberyn_TheRed_Viper t1_it5qqeo wrote

Look I guess it varies wildly from country to country for standards.

Australian outlets, yes, this is the standard.

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Revenant759 t1_it65vul wrote

How many switches do you have in a room? Jesus, I have a relatively small office with 5 outlets, the switch is for the overhead light.

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Oberyn_TheRed_Viper t1_it6h16j wrote

Small bedroom will have a single housing with two outlets in it..each outlet has its own switch.
Larger bedrooms will have a double outlet in each side of the bed for 2 people. Loungeroom has 2 to 4 double's. Etc etc.

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RossAM t1_it63kmp wrote

I'm guessing that part of that might also be we're running half the voltage you are at.

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tshawkins t1_it6txv1 wrote

That and their propensity to fall out of the outlet at the slightest provocation.

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